The Simpsons is America's Household Essay

Along with the satire of the ignorance of consumers these episode also discusses many stereotypes of modern day society. In this episode Bart meets a new kid, Bashir whose family recently moved to the United States from Jordan. The Simpsons have Bashir and his family over for dinner and Homer becomes suspicious of them because they are Muslim. Throughout the episode Homer tries, to prove that Bashir’s parents are terrorists. This situation represents the stereotypes that are created by society and some believe that all Muslim are dangerous terrorist. Sarcasm is shown in many instances, one that stuck out was when Homer makes fun of the Muslim religion and culture. Instead of saying “Praise Allah” he says “Praise be to Oliver” and instead of saying the Kuraan, he says “the Corona” Stereotypes are shown when Homer automatically assumes that Bashir’s parents are terrorists since they are Muslim. Another example is when one of Homer’s friend Leny tells him “He’s Muslim, so he must be up to something.”

"The Simpsons" basis, a father, a mother, and three kids, is far from unusual. The "typical" American is a blue-collar worker not unlike the father, Homer, who works a mindless job at the local nuclear power plant in the Simpsons' hometown of Springfield which is basically Anytown, USA. Marge, the mother, is a fairly typical housewife besides her large blue beehive hairdo. Bart, is the rebellious older son; Lisa, the under-appreciated middle child; and Maggie, the adorable baby. The Simpsons don't live in luxury, but they are a generally happy family that encounters the problems of everyday, and not-so-everyday, life, something that millions can relate to. But there is something that sets "The Simpsons" apart from the

This essay offers a postmodernist reading of the popular television program The Simpsons, with special regard to the postmodern theories of intertexuality, hyperreality, and metanarratives. Before delving into The Simpsons, some major theoretical aspects of postmodernism in aesthetic production are outlined. Three of the most prominent theorists of postmodernism – Lyotard, Baudrillard and Jameson – are introduced, as well as their theories which will be brought into consideration in the following chapters. The objective

Homer entered her life by courting her publicly; by not wanting to marry her, he would have robbed her of her dignity and high-standing in the community. The ladies of the town felt that Miss Emily was not setting a good example for the "younger people" and their affair was becoming a "disgrace to the town" (75). The traditions, customs, and prejudices of the South doomed this affair from the beginning. Emily could not let Homer live, but she could not live without him. He was her only love. When she poisoned him with arsenic, she believed he would be hers forever.

In one episode, Homer makes an unwitting jab at U.S health care. "America's health care system is second only to Japan's . . ." he says, then adds, "Canada's . . . Sweden's . . . Great Britain's . . . well, all of Europe" (McAllister 1494). In another, Homer tries to buy a gun although he is a felon and a former mental patient on the government's list of "potentially dangerous" people. In a lampoon of American gun control, the dealer tells him that being "potentially dangerous" means only that he must wait a week before he can buy a weapon (Cantor).

The traditional American family comes from the 1950s, when TV shows like Leave It to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet were released. They were the model to follow and create the family that the myth promotes. Parents happily married, nice house in suburbia, and a harmonious home are common traits of the model American Family. The myth of the American family creates a template for other families to follow; however, it only reflects to Caucasian families and creates a disappointment on today’s society.

The reason The Simpsons has been able to continue over so many years and seasons are because the programme is animated. In real time, of course, Bart Simpson would by now be almost 40 years old, and Homer and Marge would be in their 60s. Animation allows the characters to be preserved in a timeless bubble where no one has to get older. Bart and Lisa are frozen in the fourth and second grades, and Maggie is still yet to talk. Animation also allows for an entirely flexible setting that is evident in the way the Simpsons’ home town of Springfield is endlessly malleable. Depending on the needs of the episode, Springfield has mountains, a harbour, a beach, can be freezing cold or suffer from an extreme heatwave, and can also have been simultaneously

The Brady Bunch were the ideal families in the 1960's and 1970's, and in the 80's, it was Family Ties. When the 1990's approached us, television shows took on a whole new outlook on American Families. There were shows such as Full House, which was about a single father raising three daughters with the help of his brother-in-law and his best friend. Roseanne was also another show that showed the "dysfunctional" side of families. American Families keep changing, and they will continue to change in our future.

As early as 1950, television families have depicted not only the way we live today, but also the way we ought to live (Tueth, 2003). Hence, television has continued to present comedies about family life that ranges from the didactic model of domestic conventionalist and gradually to non-conventionalist ways of life. By conventionalist, I mean the depiction of the “nuclear” family that consists of clear roles, responsibilities, and gentle lines of authority that flow from the wise dad and understanding mom to the obedient children (Kutalas, 2005). Examples of these types of shows between 1947 to 1990 that constructed more than 60% of family sitcoms included: The Cleavers, The Cosby Show, Father Knows Best, Family Ties, and Growing Pains

The show makes an obvious distinction between how men/boys and women/girls act. Anyway, the episode continues with lisa playing with her doll pretending that Malibu Stacy is giving a speech at the U.N, but Lisa is disappointed when she realizes that the new and improved doll says sexist remarks such as “don’t ask me, I’m just a girl” and “let’s buy make up so that boys will like us!”. Lisa goes on a rant about how “millions of girls will grow up thinking that this is the right way to act! That they cannot be anything more than vacuous ninnies...!”and gets really mad when Bart does not understand why she is so upset. The difference in communication styles is shown here as Lisa is more adept with words than Bart is as Bart can only give Lisa a stupid reply like “that’s what I was going to say.” This illustrates the stereotype that girls are more expressive and sensitive than boys are. On the other hand, Marge plays the more traditional housewife as her mind never delves into issues that are not relevant to the domestic center; she is not privy to relevant discussions on social issues like Lisa and cannot understand why Lisa is so upset. She said that Lisa had been speaking up “an awful lot lately.” This suggests that typical lady-like behavior does not include speaking out and that the mother should enforce positive female behavior. Additionally, in

It is shown and based on research that Homer has Intermittent Explosive disorder. Intermittent Explosive disorder is a condition that is characterized to unable resist aggressive behavior which can cause assault or property damage. Signs and symptoms in this disorder are irritability, rage, aggressive impulsive acts, racing thoughts during aggressive acts, despair and remorse after actions, and can cause divorce, job loss and suspension from school. (Psychology Today, 2015) . Homer has angry outbursts, implusive and gets into fights and has a share of destructive behavior. He often strangles his son Bart when he gets angry which is linked to his anger behavior. Homer most of the time regrets his decisions after he commits them (Pearce, 2015). An example to show that Homer has this anger disorder, in the episode I am Furious (Yellow), Bart makes a comic book series of

The Simpsons first came to life on April 19th, 1987. It was aired as a

Additionally, television shows on the late 80’s through the middle 90’s, present the same family concept but with a different topic. Comedy shows like “Married with Children” which illustrates a “white” family of four members living in a Chicago suburb area with an antisocial personality disorder, is a typical example of

When Wally visits we learn that Homer has a heart disease or dysfunction so this maybe part of the reason that Homer is a very slow and enunciating talker. When he gets excited or shows emotion he doesn't take it over the edge, he keeps his composure at all times. So you can say that Homer is calm, cool, and collected. Homer has this way of giving sheepish smiles, and an aw-shucks way of presenting himself, that is a major appeal to the viewer and makes them fall in love with the young character.

suggests that Homer Barron is a fun loving person. While, Emily comes out of the house very few times, and is never seen having fun with people. When Emily proposed Homer Barron for marriage, Homer refuses to marry Emily, as he did not wanted to overtaken by time and become dull as Emily would have wished. Thus, Emily poisons Homer Barron and killed him and kept him forever with her.